Systems, methods, and devices for remotely controlling functionalities of vehicles

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods, and devices for remotely controlling functionalities of vehicles are disclosed herein. Example systems, methods and devices may include determining that a remote control device is located at a position associated with a functionality, establishing a communication connection between the remote control device and the functionality based on a machine readable medium associated with the position, and causing a user interface on the remote control device to present one or more settings associated with the functionality.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to remotely controlling functionalitiesof vehicles. Some embodiments are directed to systems, methods anddevices for remotely controlling functionalities of vehicles.

BACKGROUND

A primary interface for vehicle systems and functions include one ormore knobs and buttons, and one or more vehicle interior controls forcontrolling heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HAVC), windows,lighting, music, audio head, climate head, and shifters, etc. Typically,a vehicle interior control only performs one function for a productlifetime. The vehicle interior controls are fixed at respectivelocations and are accessible only to a driver and/or a front passengerof the vehicle. Thus, the vehicle interior controls are not accessibleto the front passenger and/or backseat passengers of the vehicle.Further, packaging restrictions make the vehicle interior control costlyand difficult to add new features once a cockpit design of the vehicleis complete.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar oridentical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/orcomponents other than those illustrated in the drawings, and someelements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments.Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn toscale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singularand plural terminology may be used interchangeably.

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic illustration of an example implementation forremotely controlling functionalities of a vehicle in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 depicts a schematic illustration of an example implementation forremotely controlling functionalities of a vehicle based on positionsrelative to the vehicle in accordance with one or more embodiments ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 3 depicts an example process flow for remotely controllingfunctionalities of a vehicle based on positions relative to a remotecontrol device in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 4 depicts an example process flow for remotely controllingfunctionalities of vehicles in accordance with one or more embodimentsof the disclosure.

FIG. 5 depicts an example process flow for remotely controllingfunctionalities of vehicles in accordance with one or more embodimentsof the disclosure.

FIG. 6 depicts an example process flow for remotely controllingfunctionalities of vehicles in accordance with one or more embodimentsof the disclosure.

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative architecture in which techniques andstructures for providing the systems and methods disclosed herein may beimplemented.

FIG. 8 depicts a schematic exploded illustration of an example remotecontrol device in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

The systems, methods and devices disclosed herein are configured toremotely controlling one or more functionalities from vehicle interiorcontrols to third-party services based on a position of a remote controldevice. A functionality describes a controllable and/or selectablefunction associated with a vehicle, e.g., driving information reviewand/or search, user comfort settings control, vehicle controls,entertainment, wayfinding, lock control, window switches control, seatadjustment control, one or more software applications, and the like. Bychanging the position associated the remote control device, differentfunctionalities are provided. The remote control device may be passedbetween vehicle inhabitants such that the functionalities are accessibleto different occupants, e.g., drivers, front passengers, and/or backseatpassengers. The functionalities may be added, removed, and different/orupdated via a software update (e.g., an over-the-air update). In someinstances, the systems, methods and devices may apply Sensor Fusion,Machine Learning and/or Artificial Intelligence to learn and adapt tovarious occupants. For example, usage data, device sensor data such asposition and biometrics, and vehicle data such as weather, vehicleinertial data, and location are used to understand the occupants'behaviors better and offer the occupants access to their desired contentmore effectively.

An occupant may interact with the remote control device to execute oneor more functionalities associated with various positions relative tothe vehicle. Different positions relative to the vehicle may beassociated with different functionalities. For instance, a remotecontrol device is placed at a first position to execute functionalitiesassociated with the first position. A different remote control deviceplaced at a second position may execute different functionalitiesassociated with the second position. If the different remote controldevice is placed at the same position as the remote control device, thedifferent remote control device may execute the same functionalities asthe remote control device. Examples are further described with respectto FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

The occupant may interact with the remote control device to execute oneor more functionalities associated with various positions relative tothe remote control device. The remote control device may controldifferent functionalities based on different positions relative to theremote control device, even if a position relative to the vehicle of theremote control device is changed. A position change relative to theremote control device may be caused by tapping or swiping a screen,rotating the entire remote control device, tilting the remote controldevice, picking the remote device up to hold the remote control device,speaking to the remote control device, and the like. Examples arefurther described with respect to FIG. 3.

The remote control device may function inside and/or outside a vehicle.The remote control device includes a high resolution touch display, amicroprocessor, and a series of internal sensors in a round, hand-sizedform factor. Examples are further described with respect to FIG. 7 andFIG. 8.

Illustrative Embodiments

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a schematic illustration ofan example implementation 100 for remotely controlling functionalities108A-108D of a vehicle 102 based on positions relative to the vehicle102 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Anoccupant 105 may be a driver, a front passenger or a backseat passengerin the vehicle 102.

The vehicle 102 may include one or more remote control devices 110. Aremote control device 110 may remotely control one or morefunctionalities 108A-108D of the vehicle 102 based on positions104A-104D where the occupant 105 places the remote control device 110. Afirst position 104A is associated with functionalities 108A, such ascharging, window controls, and interior lighting controls. A secondposition 104B is associated with functionalities 108B, such as one ormore user preferred entertainment applications. A third position 104C isassociated with functionalities 108C, such as one or more wayfindingapplications. If the occupant 105 places the remote control device 110at a position (e.g., the first position 104A, the second position 104B,or the third position 104C), the vehicle 102 may determine where theremote control device 110 is located. The vehicle 102 may establish acommunication connection between the remote control device 110 and oneor more functionalities (e.g., the functionalities 108A, thefunctionalities 108B, or the functionalities 108C) associated with theposition based on a machine readable medium associated with theposition. The machine readable medium may include one or more radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags, one or more media using aBluetooth connectivity, one or more media using a Bluetooth low energy(BLE) connectivity, one or more wireless antennas, or some combinationthereof. The vehicle 102 may cause a user interface on the remotecontrol device 110 to present one or more settings associated with theone or more functionalities.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 102 may receive an audio input andgenerate an audio and/or visual output 108D. For instance, the remotecontrol device 110 of the vehicle 102 is placed at a fourth position104D to execute one or more functionalities associated with the audioinput and audio/visual output 108D. However, it should be understoodthat the remote control device 110 may be placed at a location (e.g.,the first position 104A, the second position 104B, the third position104C or any other position) other than the fourth position to receive anaudio command from the occupant 105. The remote control device 110 maygenerate an audio and/or visual output 108D, such as an audio/visualfeedback in response to the audio command, an audio/visual outputindicating that a status of a currently executed functionality, and/oran audio/visual output indicating that a status of the remote controldevice 110 for receiving the audio command.

The vehicle 102 may further include one or more memories includingcomputer-executable instructions, and one or more computing processorsconfigured to access the one or more memories and execute thecomputer-executable instructions. For instance, the vehicle 102 mayexecute the computer-executable instructions to determine that theremote control device 110 is located at the position, to establish acommunication connection between the remote control device 110 andfunctionalities associated with the position, and to cause the userinterface on the remote control device 110 to present one or moresettings associated with the one or more functionalities. In someembodiments, the one or more memories including computer-executableinstructions, and one or more computing processors configured to accessthe one or more memories and execute the computer-executableinstructions may be included in the remote control device 110.

The vehicle 102 may establish a communication connection between theremote control device 110 and functionalities associated with a positionbased on one or more machine readable media that are included at theposition of the vehicle 102. For instance, a first readable medium(e.g., a RFID tag, or the like) may be included at the first position104A. The vehicle 102 may determine that the remote control device 110is located at the first position 104A based on the first readablemedium. The vehicle 102 may transmit a signal indicative of the firstposition 104A by the first machine readable medium located at the firstposition 104A of the vehicle 102. The vehicle 102 may cause acommunication between the first machine readable medium located at thefirst position 104A and the vehicle 102 based on the signal indicativeof the first position 104A. The vehicle 102 may establish acommunication connection between the remote control device 110 and thefunctionalities 108A based on the communication.

The vehicle 102 may establish a communication connection between theremote control device 110 and functionalities associated with a positionbased on one or more machine readable media that are included in theremote control device 110. For instance, a second machine readablemedium (e.g., a RFID tag, or the like) may be included in the remotecontrol device 110. The vehicle 102 may receive sensor data from one ormore sensors of the remote control device 110. The sensor data indicatesthat the remote control device 110 is placed at the first position 104Aas an example. A sensor may include an inertial measurement unit (IMU),a magnetometer (compass) module, a near field/far field motion sensor,an ambient light sensor, or some combination thereof. The vehicle 102may cause a communication between a second machine readable medium ofthe remote control device 110 and the vehicle 102. The vehicle 102 mayestablish a communication connection between the remote control device110 and the functionalities 108A.

The occupant 105 may interact with the remote control device 110 toexecute functionalities associated with positions relative to thevehicle 102. For instance, the remote control device 110 may be movedfrom the first position 104A to the second position 104B to execute thefunctionalities 108B. The vehicle 102 may determine a movement change ofthe remote control device 110 moving from the first position 104A to thesecond position 104B. The vehicle 102 may disestablish a firstcommunication connection between the remote control device 110 and thefunctionalities 108A based at on the movement change. The vehicle 102may establish a second communication connection between the remotecontrol device 110 and the functionalities 108B based on one or moremachine readable media associated with the second position 104B. Themachine readable media may be included at the second position 104B ofthe vehicle 102, or included in the remote control device 110. Thevehicle 102 may cause the user interface on the remote control device110 to present one or more settings associated with the functionalities180B.

The movement change may be detected by one or more sensors of thevehicle 102 and/or by the sensors of the remote control device 110.

The vehicle 102 may receive a user input based on the user interactionwith the remote control device 110 to modify the one or more settingsassociated with the functionalities. The user interaction may includetapping or swiping a screen, rotating the entire remote control device,tilting the remote control device, picking the remote device up to holdthe remote control device, speaking to the remote control device, andthe like.

The remote control device 110 may include a touch display, one or moresensors to generate sensor data, the one or more memories includingcomputer-executable instructions, and the one or more computingprocessors to access the one or more memories and execute thecomputer-executable instructions.

FIG. 2 depicts a schematic illustration of an example implementation 200for remotely controlling functionalities 220A-220F of the vehicle 102based on positions 210A-210F relative to the vehicle 102 in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Differentfunctionalities 220A-220F may be associated with respective positions210A-210-F. In some embodiments, a single remote control device 110 maybe placed at a particular position of the positions 210A-210F to executefunctionalities associated with the particular position. The singleremote control device 110 may be passed over from one occupant (e.g., adriver, or a front passenger) to another occupant (e.g., a backseatpassenger) to be placed at a position proximate the later occupant toexecute functionalities associated with the position. In otherinstances, the vehicle 102 may include multiple remote control devices110. Each of the multiple remote control devices 110 may be placed at arespective position (e.g., positions 210A-210F). Each of the multipleremote control devices 110 may execute respective functionalities220A-220F associated with the positions 210A-210F.

FIG. 3 depicts a schematic illustration of an example implementation 300for remotely controlling functionalities 330A-330C of the vehicle 102based on positions 332-336 relative to a remote control device 310 inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The remotecontrol device 310 may be one of embodiments of the remote controldevice 110. Multiple functionalities (e.g., a lock control 320A, awindow control 320B, and a seat adjustment control 320C) in a typicalvehicle may be executed by the single remote control device 310 based onvarious positions relative to the remote control device 310, even if aposition relative to the vehicle 102 of the remote control device 310 ischanged. For instance, the occupant 105 may twist 332 the remote controldevice 310 to execute a lock control 330A, slide 334 the remote controldevice 310 to execute a window control 330B, jog and tilt 336 the remotecontrol device 310 to execute a seat adjustment control 330C. Thevehicle 102 may determine a movement change of the remote control device310 moving from a twisting position 332 to a sliding position 334relative to the remote control device 310. The vehicle 102 maydisestablish a first communication connection between the remote controldevice 310 and the lock control 330A based on the movement change. Thevehicle 102 may establish a second communication connection between theremote control device 310 and the window control 330B. The vehicle 102may cause a user interface on the remote control device 310 to presentone or more settings associated with the window control 330B. Themovement change may be detected by one or more sensors of the remotecontrol device 110. The vehicle 102 may determine a movement change ofthe remote control device 310 moving from the first position 104A to thesecond position 104B relative to the vehicle 102. The vehicle 102 maymaintain the functionalities associated with positions relative to theremote control device 310.

In some embodiments, each occupant may have a remote control device 310placed proximate to a respective occupant. The occupant may pivot theremote control device 310 to pick it up to hold the remote controldevice for a user input. The vehicle 102 may receive a user input basedon the user interaction with the remote control device 110 to modify theone or more settings associated with the functionalities.

FIG. 4 depicts an example process flow 400 for remotely controllingfunctionalities of vehicles in accordance with one or more embodimentsof the disclosure.

At block 410 of the process flow 400, one or more computer processors ofa vehicle and/or a remote control device may execute computer-executableinstructions stored on memory to determine that the remote controldevice is located at a position, the position associated with afunctionality. The position (e.g., the positions 104A-104D in FIG. 1, orthe positions 210A-210F in FIG. 2) may be relative to the vehicle. Theposition (e.g., the positions in 332-336 in FIG. 3) may also be relativeto the remote control device. The position may be determined based onsensor data of the remote control device. The position may be determinedbased on one or more machine readable media associated with theposition. The machine readable media may be included at the position ofthe vehicle. In some embodiments, the machine readable media may beincluded in the remote control device.

At block 420 of the process flow 400, one or more computer processors ofa vehicle and/or a remote control device may execute computer-executableinstructions stored on memory to establish a communication connectionbetween the remote control device and the functionality based on amachine readable medium associated with the position. In one example,the machine readable medium is included at the position of the vehicle.The vehicle may transmit a signal indicative of the position by themachine readable medium. The vehicle may cause a communication betweenthe machine readable medium based on the signal. The vehicle mayestablish the communication connection between the remote control deviceand the functionality based on the communication. As another example,the machine readable medium is included in the remote control device.The vehicle may receive sensor data from one or more sensors of theremote control device. The sensor data indicates that the remote controldevice is placed at the position. The vehicle may cause a communicationbetween the machine readable medium and the vehicle. The vehicle 102 mayestablish a communication connection between the remote control deviceand the functionality based on the communication.

At block 430 of the process flow 400, one or more computer processors ofa vehicle and/or a remote control device may execute computer-executableinstructions stored on memory to cause a user interface on the firstremote control device to present one or more settings associated withthe functionality. The vehicle may receive a user input based on a userinteraction with the remote control device to modify the one or moresettings associated with the functionality.

FIG. 5 depicts an example process flow 500 for remotely controllingfunctionalities of vehicles in accordance with one or more embodimentsof the disclosure. Steps 510-590 may be performed by one or morecomputer processors of a vehicle and/or a remote control device. Forinstance, one or more computer processors of a vehicle and/or a remotecontrol device may execute computer-executable instructions stored onmemory to execute a driving information application based on an RFIDtag, or a Bluetooth/BLE connectivity that is associated with a firstposition, and/or to execute a user comfort application based on an RFIDtag, or a Bluetooth/BLE connectivity that is associated with a secondposition.

FIG. 6 depicts an example process flow 600 for remotely controllingfunctionalities of vehicles in accordance with one or more embodimentsof the disclosure. Steps 610-682 may be performed by one or morecomputer processors of a vehicle and/or a remote control device. Forinstance, one or more computer processors of a vehicle and/or a remotecontrol device may execute computer-executable instructions stored onmemory to execute a vehicle control application based on an RFID tag ora Bluetooth/BLE connectivity that is associated with a first position,to execute a user preferred entertainment application based on a RFIDtag, or a Bluetooth/BLE connectivity that is associated with a secondposition, to execute a wayfinding application based on a RFID tag, or aBluetooth/BLE connectivity that associated with a third position, and/orto execute an audio-command based application based on a RFID tag, or aBluetooth/BLE connectivity that is associated with a fourth position.

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative architecture 700 in which techniques andstructures for providing the systems and methods disclosed herein may beimplemented. The illustrative architecture 700 may include vehicle 102,one or more remote control devices 110(1), 110(2), 110(3), 110(S), and anetwork 760. The network 760 may include any one or a combination ofmultiple different types of networks, such as cable networks, theInternet, wireless networks, and other private and/or public networks.In some instances, the network 750 may include cellular, Wi-Fi, or Wi-Fidirect.

The vehicle 102 generally includes a vehicle controller 720 and afunctionality assembly 730. Generally described, the vehicle controller720 includes one or more processors 722 and one or more memories 724.The memory 724 stores instructions that may be executed by the processor722 to perform various functions or operations disclosed herein, and/orto instruct the remote control device 110 to remotely control theassembly 730 in accordance with the present disclosure. The vehiclecontroller 720 may also include a communications interface 728 thatallows the vehicle controller 720 to communicate with the remote controldevice 110 over the network 760. The vehicle controller 720 may alsoinclude a position detection module 726 that may determine where theremote control device 110 is located. The position detection module 726may include one or more machine readable media 727. In some embodiments,the position detection module 726 can be included in the remote controldevice 110.

The functionality assembly 730 may include any one or more of anentertainment or infotainment system 732, one or more lighting elements734, a voice command system 736, one or more seat sensors and/orcomponents 737, a climate control system 738, one or more softwareapplications 740, a lock control system 742, a window control system744, a seat adjustment system 746, and other functionalities 748.

The entertainment or infotainment system 732 is configured to providevisual and/or auditory output for the occupant 105 such as music,videos, or other media. The lighting elements 734 include any lightingdevices that are located within the cabin of the vehicle 102. Some ofthese lighting elements 734 have selectable luminance and/or hue. Thus,the vehicle controller 720 may instruct the remote control device 110selectively alter or change the luminance and/or hue of the one or morelights.

The voice command system 736 may include any automated voice controlledsystem that allows the occupant 105 to interact with the vehiclecontroller 720 and/or the remote control device 110 using words,phrases, or natural language input. For example, the voice commandsystem 736 may be used to instruct a user in utilizing thefunctionalities of the vehicle 102.

The climate control system 738 allows a user to select a temperaturewithin the vehicle 102 as well as control other aspects of climate suchas seat heating or cooling. The vehicle controller 720 may also causethe climate control system 738 to activate heaters in a seat where theuser is located using one or more seat sensors.

A software applications 740 may be a computer program designed toperform a group of coordinated functions, tasks, or activities for thebenefit of the occupant 105. Example of the software application caninclude a driving information application, a user comfort application, avehicle controls application, a user preferred entertainmentapplication, a wayfinding application, and/or any suitable computerprogram that perform tasks for the benefit of the occupant 105. The lockcontrol system 742 controls one or more locks of the vehicle 102. Thewindow control system 744 controls one or more windows of the vehicle102. The seat adjustment system 746 adjusts seat position for one ormore seats of the vehicle. The other functionalities 748 may include ascent dispenser that is configured to output scents, one or morebiometric sensors that collect biometric data such as heart rate, pulse,body temperature, or other similar biometric data, and/or any othersuitable functionality associated with the vehicle 102.

The remote control device 110 may be configured to remotely control thefunctionality assembly 730. The remote control device 110 generallyincludes one or more processors 772, one or more memories 774, one ormore I/O interfaces 776, a communication interface 778, a sensor module780, the position detection module 726, a charging module 784, a hapticmodule 786, and one or more I/O components 790.

The memory 774 stores instructions that may be executed by the processor772 to perform various functions or operations disclosed herein. Ingeneral, the processor 772 may execute the instructions stored in thememory 774 to remotely control the functionality assembly 730. Theprocessor 772 may also execute the instructions stored in the memory 774to receive one or more inputs and to generate one or more outputs viathe I/O interfaces 776 and I/O components 790. The communicationsinterface 778 that allows the remote control device 110 to communicatewith the vehicle controller 720 over the network 760. In someembodiments, the remote control device 110 may also include the positiondetection module 726.

The one or more I/O interfaces 776 allow for the coupling I/O components790 to the remote control device 110. The I/O interfaces 776 may includeinter-integrated circuit (“I2C”), serial peripheral interface bus(“SPI”), universal serial bus (“USB”), RS-232, RS-432, and so forth.

The I/O components 790 may include one or more displays 792, one or moretouch sensors 794, one or more audio input/output components 796, andother suitable I/O components 798. The display 792 may be a highresolution display, a touchscreen, or a liquid crystal orelectrophoretic display elements. The touch sensor 794 may includeinterpolating force sensing resistor (“IFSR”) arrays, capacitivesensors, optical touch sensors, and so forth. The audio input/outputcomponents 796 may include speakers, and microphones. The other I/Ocomponents 798 may include external memory devices, global positioningsystem receivers that may be coupled to the remote control device 110using the I/O interfaces 776.

The sensor module 780 may determine a movement relative to the remotecontrol device 110 and a movement relative to the vehicle 102. Thesensor module 780 may include an IMU module 782, one or moremagnetometer (compass) module 784, one or more sensors 785, and one ormore machine readable media 727. The one or more sensors 785 can includea near field motion sensor, a far field motion sensor, a near/far fieldmotion sensor, an ambient light senor, any other suitable sensor, orsome combination thereof. The sensor module 780 may determine movementsgenerated in FIG. 3, such as one or more twisting positions, one or moresliding positions, and one or more jogging and tilting positionsrelative to the remote control device 110. The sensor module 780 maydetermine the movement of the remote control device 110 relative to thevehicle 102.

The charging module 784 may include one or more batteries, and/or one ormore charging antennas. The haptic module 786 may generate hapticmotions associated with actions performed by the occupant 105, and/orassociated with one or more functionalities in the functionalityassembly 730 that are currently executed by the remote control device110.

FIG. 8 depicts a schematic illustration of an example remote controldevice 800 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.The remote control device 800 is one of embodiments of the remotecontrol device 110. The remote control device 800 includes a lens 810, atouch display 812, a microphone 814, a circuit board 816, a battery 818,a haptic motor 820, a charging antenna 824, and a magnetic reactive PCenclosure 826. The circuit board 816 may include a microprocessor, a IMUmodule, a magnetometer module, one or more near/far filed motionsensors, one or more ambient light sensors, one or more machine readablemedia.

In the above disclosure, reference has been made to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part hereof, which illustrate specificimplementations in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It isunderstood that other implementations may be utilized, and structuralchanges may be made without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodimentdescribed may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include theparticular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrasesare not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with an embodiment, one skilled in the art will recognizesuch feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with otherembodiments whether or not explicitly described.

Implementations of the systems, apparatuses, devices, and methodsdisclosed herein may comprise or utilize a special purpose orgeneral-purpose computer including computer hardware, such as, forexample, one or more processors and system memory, as discussed herein.Implementations within the scope of the present disclosure may alsoinclude physical and other computer-readable media for carrying orstoring computer-executable instructions and/or data structures. Suchcomputer-readable media may be any available media that may be accessedby a general purpose or special purpose computer system.Computer-readable media that stores computer-executable instructions iscomputer storage media (devices). Computer-readable media that carriescomputer-executable instructions is transmission media. Thus, by way ofexample, and not limitation, implementations of the present disclosuremay comprise at least two distinctly different kinds ofcomputer-readable media: computer storage media (devices) andtransmission media.

Computer storage media (devices) includes RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM,solid state drives (SSDs) (e.g., based on RAM), flash memory,phase-change memory (PCM), other types of memory, other optical diskstorage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or anyother medium which may be used to store desired program code means inthe form of computer-executable instructions or data structures andwhich may be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

An implementation of the devices, systems, and methods disclosed hereinmay communicate over a computer network. A “network” is defined as oneor more data links that enable the transport of electronic data betweencomputer systems and/or modules and/or other electronic devices. Wheninformation is transferred or provided over a network or anothercommunications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or anycombination of hardwired or wireless) to a computer, the computerproperly views the connection as a transmission medium. Transmissionmedia may include a network and/or data links, which may be used tocarry desired program code means in the form of computer-executableinstructions or data structures and which may be accessed by a generalpurpose or special purpose computer. Combinations of the above shouldalso be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions anddata which, when executed at a processor, cause a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing deviceto perform a certain function or group of functions. Thecomputer-executable instructions may be, for example, binaries,intermediate format instructions such as assembly language, or evensource code. Although the subject matter has been described in languagespecific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to beunderstood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the described features or acts described above.Rather, the described features and acts are disclosed as example formsof implementing the claims.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure maybe practiced in network computing environments with many types ofcomputer system configurations, including in-dash vehicle computers,personal computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, messageprocessors, handheld devices, multi-processor systems,microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs,minicomputers, mainframe computers, mobile telephones, PDAs, tablets,pagers, routers, switches, various storage devices, and the like. Thedisclosure may also be practiced in distributed system environmentswhere local and remote computer systems, which are linked (either byhardwired data links, wireless data links, or by any combination ofhardwired and wireless data links) through a network, both performtasks. In a distributed system environment, program modules may belocated in both the local and remote memory storage devices.

Further, where appropriate, the functions described herein may beperformed in one or more of hardware, software, firmware, digitalcomponents, or analog components. For example, one or more applicationspecific integrated circuits (ASICs) may be programmed to carry out oneor more of the systems and procedures described herein. Certain termsare used throughout the description and claims refer to particularsystem components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, componentsmay be referred to by different names. This document does not intend todistinguish between components that differ in name, but not function.

It should be noted that the sensor embodiments discussed above maycomprise computer hardware, software, firmware, or any combinationthereof to perform at least a portion of their functions. For example, asensor may include computer code configured to be executed in one ormore processors and may include hardware logic/electrical circuitrycontrolled by the computer code. These example devices are providedherein for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting.Embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in furthertypes of devices, as would be known to persons skilled in the relevantart(s).

At least some embodiments of the present disclosure have been directedto computer program products comprising such logic (e.g., in the form ofsoftware) stored on any computer-usable medium. Such software, whenexecuted in one or more data processing devices, causes a device tooperate as described herein.

While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilledin the relevant art that various changes in form and detail may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure shouldnot be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments butshould be defined only in accordance with the following claims and theirequivalents. The foregoing description has been presented for thepurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise formdisclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light ofthe above teaching. Further, it should be noted that any or all of theaforementioned alternate implementations may be used in any combinationdesired to form additional hybrid implementations of the presentdisclosure. For example, any of the functionality described with respectto a particular device or component may be performed by another deviceor component. Further, while specific device characteristics have beendescribed, embodiments of the disclosure may relate to numerous otherdevice characteristics. Further, although embodiments have beendescribed in language specific to structural features and/ormethodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather,the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms ofimplementing the embodiments. Conditional language, such as, amongothers, “may,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically statedotherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, isgenerally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include,while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements,and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intendedto imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way requiredfor one or more embodiments.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle comprising: a first remotecontrol device configured to remotely control one or morefunctionalities of the vehicle; at least one memory comprisingcomputer-executable instructions; and one or more computing processorsconfigured to access the at least one memory and execute thecomputer-executable instructions to: determine that the first remotecontrol device is located at a first position within the vehicle, thefirst position associated with a first functionality of the vehicle;establish a first communication connection between the first remotecontrol device and the first functionality based at least in part on afirst machine readable medium associated with the first position; andcause a user interface on the first remote control device to present oneor more settings associated with the first functionality.
 2. The vehicleof claim 1, wherein establishing the first communication connectionbetween the first remote control device and the first functionalitybased at least in part on the first machine readable medium associatedwith the first position comprises: transmitting a signal indicative ofthe first position by the first machine readable medium located at thefirst position of the vehicle; causing, based at least in part on thesignal indicative of the first position, a communication between thefirst machine readable medium located at the first position and thefirst remote control device; and establishing the first communicationconnection between the first remote control device and the firstfunctionality of the vehicle based at least in part on thecommunication.
 3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein establishing the firstcommunication connection between the first remote control device and thefirst functionality based at least in part on the first machine readablemedium associated with the first position comprises: receiving sensordata from one or more sensors of the first remote control device, thesensor data indicative of the first position; causing, based at least inpart on the sensor data indicative of the first position, acommunication between the first machine readable medium of the firstremote control device and the vehicle; and establishing the firstcommunication connection between the first remote control device and thefirst functionality based at least in part on the communication.
 4. Thevehicle of claim 1, wherein the one or more computing processorsconfigured to access the at least one memory and execute thecomputer-executable instructions to: determine a movement change of thefirst remote control device moving from the first position to a secondposition; disestablish the first communication connection between thefirst remote control device and the first functionality based at leastin part on the movement change; establish a second communicationconnection between the first remote control device and a secondfunctionality of the one or more functionalities based at least in parton a second machine readable medium associated with the second position;and cause the user interface on the first remote control device topresent one or more settings associated with the second functionality.5. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a second remote controldevice, wherein the one or more computing processors is furtherconfigured to access the at least one memory and execute thecomputer-executable instructions to: determine that the second remotecontrol device is located at the first position of the vehicle;establish a second communication connection between the second remotecontrol device and the first functionality based at least in part on asecond machine readable medium associated with the first position; andcause a user interface on the second remote control device to presentthe one or more settings associated with the first functionality.
 6. Thevehicle of claim 1, further comprising a second remote control device,wherein the one or more computing processors is further configured toaccess the at least one memory and execute the computer-executableinstructions to: determine that the second remote control device islocated at a second position of the vehicle; establish a secondcommunication connection between the second remote control device and asecond functionality based at least in part on a second machine readablemedium associated with the second position; and cause a user interfaceon the second remote control device to present one or more settingsassociated with the second functionality.
 7. The vehicle of claim 1,wherein the one or more computer processors are further configured toaccess the at least one memory and execute the computer-executableinstructions to: determine a movement change of the first remote controldevice moving from the first position to a second position; and maintainthe first communication connection at the second position.
 8. Thevehicle of claim 1, wherein the one or more computer processors arefurther configured to access the at least one memory and execute thecomputer-executable instructions to: receive a user input based at leastin part on one or more user interactions between the first remotecontrol device and at least one passenger of the vehicle; and modify theone or more settings associated with the first functionality based atleast in part on the user input.
 9. A remote control device comprising:a touch display; one or more sensors configured to generate sensor data;one or more machine readable media configured to communicate with avehicle based at least in part on the sensor data, at least one memorycomprising computer-executable instructions; and one or more computingprocessors configured to access the at least one memory and execute thecomputer-executable instructions to: receive the sensor data from theone or more sensors, the sensor data indicating that the remote controldevice is located at a first position within the vehicle; cause, basedat least in part on the sensor data indicative of the first position, afirst communication connection between the one or more machine readablemedia of the remote control device and the vehicle; establish a secondcommunication connection between the remote control device and a firstfunctionality of the vehicle based at least in part on the firstcommunication connection, the first functionality associated with thefirst position; and cause a user interface on the remote control deviceto present one or more settings associated with the first functionality.10. The remote control device of claim 9, wherein the one or morecomputing processors configured to access the at least one memory andexecute the computer-executable instructions to: determine a movementchange of the remote control device moving from the first position to asecond position based at least in part on the sensor data; disestablishthe second communication connection between the remote control deviceand the first functionality of the vehicle based at least in part on themovement change; cause, based at least in part on the sensor dataindicative of the second position, a third communication connectionbetween the one or more machine readable media of the remote controldevice and the vehicle; establish a fourth communication connectionbetween the remote control device and a second functionality of thevehicle based at least in part on the third communication connection;and cause the user interface on the touch display to present one or moresettings associated with the second functionality.
 11. The remotecontrol device of claim 9, wherein the one or more computer processorsare further configured to access the at least one memory and execute thecomputer-executable instructions to: determine a movement change of theremote control device moving from the first position to a secondposition; and maintain the first communication connection at the secondposition.
 12. The remote control device of claim 9, wherein the one ormore computer processors are further configured to access the at leastone memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to: receivea user input based at least in part on one or more user interactionsbetween the user interface and at least one passenger of the vehicle;and modify the one or more settings associated with the firstfunctionality based at least in part on the user input.
 13. A system,comprising: a vehicle; a first remote control device configured toremotely control one or more functionalities of the vehicle; at leastone memory comprising computer-executable instructions; and one or morecomputing processors configured to access the at least one memory andexecute the computer-executable instructions to: determine that thefirst remote control device is located at a first position within thevehicle, the first position associated with a first functionality;establish a first communication connection between the first remotecontrol device and the first functionality based at least in part on afirst machine readable medium associated with the first position; andcause a user interface on the first remote control device to present oneor more settings associated with the first functionality.
 14. The systemof claim 13, wherein establishing the first communication connectionbetween the first remote control device and the first functionalitybased at least in part on the first machine readable medium associatedwith the first position comprises: transmitting a signal indicative ofthe first position by the first machine readable medium located at thefirst position of the vehicle; causing, based at least in part on thesignal indicative of the first position, a communication between thefirst machine readable medium located at the first position and thefirst remote control device; and establishing the first communicationconnection between the first remote control device and the firstfunctionality of the vehicle based at least in part on thecommunication.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein establishing thefirst communication connection between the first remote control deviceand the first functionality based at least in part on the first machinereadable medium associated with the first position comprises: receivingsensor data from one or more sensors of the first remote control device,the sensor data indicative of the first position; causing, based atleast in part on the sensor data indicative of the first position, acommunication between the first machine readable medium of the firstremote control device and the vehicle; and establishing the firstcommunication connection between the first remote control device and thefirst functionality based at least in part on the communication.
 16. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the one or more computing processorsconfigured to access the at least one memory and execute thecomputer-executable instructions to: determine a movement change of thefirst remote control device moving from the first position to a secondposition; disestablish the first communication connection between thefirst remote control device and the first functionality based at leastin part on the movement change; establish a second communicationconnection between the first remote control device and a secondfunctionality of the one or more functionalities based at least in parton a second machine readable medium associated with the second position;and cause the user interface on the first remote control device topresent one or more settings associated with the second functionality.17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a second remote controldevice, wherein the one or more computing processors is furtherconfigured to access the at least one memory and execute thecomputer-executable instructions to: determine that the second remotecontrol device is located at the first position of the vehicle;establish a second communication connection between the second remotecontrol device and the first functionality based at least in part on asecond machine readable medium associated with the first position; andcause a user interface on the second remote control device to presentthe one or more settings associated with the first functionality. 18.The system of claim 13, further comprising a second remote controldevice, wherein the one or more computing processors is furtherconfigured to access the at least one memory and execute thecomputer-executable instructions to: determine that the second remotecontrol device is located at a second position of the vehicle; establisha second communication connection between the second remote controldevice and a second functionality based at least in part on a secondmachine readable medium associated with the second position; and cause auser interface on the second remote control device to present one ormore settings associated with the second functionality.
 19. The systemof claim 13, wherein the one or more computer processors are furtherconfigured to access the at least one memory and execute thecomputer-executable instructions to: determine a movement change of thefirst remote control device moving from the first position to a secondposition; and maintain the first communication connection at the secondposition.
 20. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more computerprocessors are further configured to access the at least one memory andexecute the computer-executable instructions to: receive a user inputbased at least in part on one or more user interactions between thefirst remote control device and at least one passenger of the vehicle;and modify the one or more settings associated with the firstfunctionality based at least in part on the user input.